BOOK REVIEW: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS of WORKING in a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT

Hello people.

A Gallup poll released in 2013 showed that only 13% of workers feel a passion for their job and a deep connection to their employer. The same poll showed that 63% of workers are unhappy at their jobs and put  in little or no energy in it while the remaining 24% of workers are actively disengaged from their jobs; they hate their jobs and feel frustrated by it.

It might be easy for one to overlook the data; after all, this survey was probably taken in the US or the UK and so has no bearing on Africa, right? Wrong! The information was gathered from workers in 142 countries, including African countries.

In reality, some of us might not need a poll or a soothsayer to inform us that many people are unhappy at work, a simple look in the mirror as well as a discussion with our acquaintances is sometimes all that is needed. But, one may ask, why are so many people unhappy at work? Reasons could range from having a petty boss to having to meet deadlines that are sometimes ulcer-causing, but whatever the case may be, the bottom line still remains…many people are unhappy at work. So what’s a person to do?

The good news is; one can always resign from the organization. The bad news is…wait, there are two, actually. One; the next job might not be forthcoming thus rendering one jobless for a while, and two, the probability of encountering hostile conditions in the next environment is quite high [Don't believe me? Ask workers who change jobs virtually every other year. They will confirm my statement].

This week, I have chosen to review the book ‘The Ten Commandments of Working in a Hostile Environment’ by T.D Jakes. Full of sage advice, the book will come in handy for people experiencing unhappiness in their place of work. Workers presently enjoying their place of work will also find ideas in the book which, if implemented, could enhance their feeling of satisfaction on the job.Enjoy.

The Ten Commandments of Working in a Hostile Environment is a book written by Thomas Dexter Jakes and published by The Berkeley Publishing Group. In the book, T.D Jakes explains how one can rise above petty conflicts and turn obstacles into opportunities. Some of the commandments described in the book include:

First Commandment: Know that you are anointed for the job or position you now hold:

T.D Jakes asserts that one of the first impulses workers must control is the tendency to think that the grass is always greener on the other side. He posits that people are strategically placed in certain offices for a Divine Assignment and that often times, adverse circumstances serve as a training ground to develop strength of character.

Second Commandment: Don't expect to be appreciated.

T.D Jakes maintains in this chapter that a workplace is not the place to receive affirmation.  He further contends that the craving for appreciation in the workplace is what often leads to great disappointment as it gives others the power to influence our sense of worth, among other things. He encourages his readers not to take things personally and to know who they are apart from what they do, emphasizing that it is OK to expect appreciation from family, friends and acquaintances but not from work, adding that work is just what it sounds like: work.

Third commandment: Embrace opportunities for change.

T.D Jakes postulates here that change is one of the greatest sources of friction in work environments. This change could be in form of a transfer from one department to another, a change in one’s line manager, etc.  He encourages readers to view transition as a means to the next level and gives some practical advice for dealing with changes in the workplace, one of which includes being careful about what you say in the office and refusing to be a loose cannon. T.D Jakes further adds that speaking one’s mind is not always the best course of action to take despite what people say as often times we end up violating our own privacy as a result.

Fourth Commandment: Do the job well while remembering the vision.

In this chapter, T.D Jakes maintains that the secret to performing our duties well without becoming disgruntled or bored is to maintain a vision of where we’re headed in the future. He exhorts readers to maintain a double vision; to make the most of the present while anticipating the future. He further warns readers to be careful not to make money the primary reason for working otherwise one runs the risk of prostituting oneself to the highest bidder and missing one’s higher purpose.

Fifth Commandment: Don’t let the environment get inside of you: Negative attitudes, harmful behaviour, and insidious gossip can make one lose his/her peace, joy and vision, according to T.D Jakes. When this happens, depression becomes the inevitable outcome. For this reason, it is important that one takes precautions against such harmful emotions. T.D Jakes suggests that the first measure to take is to attend to proper spiritual nutrition. In other words, this is the time to be as close to God as possible so as to receive spiritual strength. In addition to this, he strongly urges readers to maintain boundaries between work life and other facets of life stating that work is not the place to air personal problems or receive therapy. The person you aired your marital problems to today might prevent you from tackling the next big assignment tomorrow citing the excuse that your preoccupation with your marital issues might affect your performance on the assignment! He advises readers to take time to rest, to engage in physical exercise and to cultivate meaningful relationships outside of work.

Other commandments described in the book are:

Sixth Commandment: Increase your capacity to work with difficult personalities.

Seventh Commandment: Where you are is not where you are going.

Eight Commandment: Achieve optimal results with minimal confusion.

Ninth Commandment: Do not pledge allegiance to cliques and groups [My favourite chapter].

Tenth Commandment: Always keep your song near you.

Readers used to T.D Jakes style of writing will know that he is usually poetical in his writings [Think Woman Thou Art Loosed and The Lady, The Lover and her Lord]; however he deviated from his norm with this book and was quite pragmatic in his writing. I recommend this book to every worker; I guarantee that you will find it handy and will keep referring to it again and again.

Have you read this book before? If so, what’s your take on it? For first time readers, do you feel inspired to read the book after reading this review? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.